Prohibiting Excess: Book Prohibitions and the Discourse on Desire in the Late Ming and Early Qing

• Main Authors: Thaya Saxby, 商哲雅
• Other Authors: Hung-Tai Wang
• Format: Others
• Language: zh-TW
• Published: 2013
• Online Access: http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/08835418729839632615

碩士 === 國立臺灣大學 === 歷史學研究所 === 101 === Following the spread of popular fiction in the Ming Dynasty, “excessive” or erotic fiction became a target of official and public concern, with many believing it had the power to destroy social morality and corrupt people’s hearts. By the Qing Dynasty, this type of criticism had become a common occurrence, and moralists berated the gullibility of the populace and bewailed the degradation of literary activity. Although the Qianlong era’s “Four Treasuries” activities and literary “inquisitions” have received much attention, there has been less focus on the increasing focus on culturally—rather than politically—offensive content in the early Qing. This paper will first explore the development of early Qing cultural policy and prohibition towards fiction, and then turn to look at some of the ways that the banned fiction was interacting with and reflecting certain cultural trends, as well as violating social mores. Finally, we will look at some of the views that the members of the public and of the literati held towards the rise of fiction and the influence of the popular culture sphere.